TRENTON — New Jersey Republicans outraised Democrats during the first three months of the year, according to reports released this morning by the state’s campaign finance watchdog. The Republican State Committee, combined with the GOP’s two legislative leadership committees, took in $1.08 million. The Democratic State Committee and that party’s two leadership committees raised $656,000. The parties are starting...
The efforts of Gov. Chris Christie have helped New Jersey Republicans raise more than $1 million during the first three months of the year.TRENTON — New Jersey Republicans outraised Democrats during the first three months of the year, according to reports released this morning by the state’s campaign finance watchdog.
The Republican State Committee, combined with the GOP’s two legislative leadership committees, took in $1.08 million. The Democratic State Committee and that party’s two leadership committees raised $656,000.
The parties are starting to ramp up their fundraising in advance of November’s election, when all 120 state Senate and Assembly seats are up for grabs.
The totals are a major shift from four years ago, when Democrats controlled the governorship. Compared to the first quarter of 2007, Republican fundraising is up 260 percent while Democrats’ total has declined by 52 percent.
Election Law Enforcement Commission Executive Director Jeffrey Brindle said the shift is partly due to having Gov. Chris Christie to raise money for the Republicans. For instance, last month the Republican State Committee had a fundraiser celebrating Christie’s first year in office where guests paid $10,000 for a seat at a roundtable discussion with the governor.
The Republican State Committee raised $740,000 to the Democratic State Committee's $189,000. The Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature, still have an edge in fundraising for legislative leadership committees. The Democrats' Senate and Assembly committees took in $468,000 to the Republicans' $342,000.
Democrats, meanwhile, have taken a major fundraising hit because former Gov. Jon Corzine is no longer doling out campaign contributions.
The Republican groups have a combined $1.73 million in cash left over, compared to the Democrats' combined $771,000.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Republicans enjoy substantial increase in fundraising
• Christie's attendance at National Republican Congressional Committee fundraising dinner nets $10M
• Gov. Christie to join Henry Kissinger for N.Y. fundraiser to bolster N.J. Republican Party